Hand of the Queen

28

many years later
...

I stand over the desk within the Hand's Tower, going through different pieces of parchment and letters from each of the Houses as Daenerys sits before me. Many come from the woman who trains with Olenna Tyrell, preparing to take her place as Lady of Highgarden when the old woman passes. Others are updates of the small war with House Stark, our army close to wiping through the North's and forcing them to bend the knee.

Outside the window, three shadows come to pass. One of blood red, the next black as night, and the third bright green. Meleaxes, Nightfyre, and Rhaegal soar back to the beautiful new dragon pits, built large enough to hold the dragons without consequence. Melania looks up from where she lies in her pile of furs upon the floor as they fly past.

"I assume we have only a few moments more." I say with a grin, not looking up from the papers. Daenerys lets out a small laugh as she nods in agreement.

"I suppose the Small Council meeting will need to be moved back." She says, I meet her eyes with a smile.

"It is your name day, your grace. Did you truly believe they would leave you alone?" Daenerys shakes her head as the footsteps outside grow closer. The doors are thrown open to reveal all three of them holding gifts in their arms. "The lot of you smell like dragon." I place the papers onto my desk and smile at my husband and children.

"Meleaxes grew tired of sitting in the pits, mother." Daemon tells me. "And Visenya could not allow Nightfyre to become jealous if I took Meleaxes for a ride." I look between my two grinning children, their shock white hair still disheveled. My gaze travels to the Targaryen prince behind them.

"And you, husband? What is your excuse?" I ask him, he shrugs.

"I could not allow the Heir to the Iron Throne to go riding alone." Aegon says, smirking at me as I shake my head.

"The both of you did not need to get me any gifts." Daenerys says as my children shove the presents into her arms, despite her protests. "Is this why you missed your lesson this morning, Daemon?" She grins at my son as he grows slightly red in the face, avoiding her eyes. "The both of you are growing older now. You will sit the throne one day, Daemon. And Visenya, you are the princess of Dragonstone. The both of you need to begin to learn what those titles mean." I nudge Daenerys's shoulder and sit down beside her.

"You may lecture them later, open the gifts now." I tell her, she begins to pull open the presents. From Visenya, she receives a beautiful silver necklace holding the silhouettes of her three dragons. From Daemon, she is gifted a remarkable painting of Drogon.

"My loves, these are beautiful." She says, not wasting a moment before clasping the necklace around her neck. Aegon takes his place beside me and subtly passes me our own gift for the Queen.

"Happy Name Day, your grace." I say, passing her the present. She opens it to reveal a beautiful new crown holding three dragons weaved into its silver details.

"It is amazing." She says, squeezing my hand with a smile. "You know how much I love each of you. I will cherish all of these gifts from you." She pulls my children into her arms and closes her eyes as she squeezes them.

"Now go bathe, both of you. Your aunt will stink of dragon if you continue to lie against her." I say, grinning at them. I lean against Aegon as our children run from the room, pure joy settled into every inch of me.

House Targaryen, finally at its most true power once more.